Boxing: Main brings home the medals

BOXINGTrio earn gold, silver, bronze at PAL tournament

PETER LIM, CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Published 6:30 am, Friday, November 12, 2010

Boxers from the Main Boxing Gym returned from the 2010 National Police Athletic League (PAL) tournament held in San Antonio early October with a three medals. This year's competition was particularly significant as winners in the open divisions have secured themselves a spot in the Olympic Trials.

It has always been the dream of Foster, 92-10, to represent the United States at the Olympics and by winning the men's open 123-pound division, he has become the first bantamweight to qualify for the Olympic Trials, tentatively scheduled for July 2011 in Colorado Springs. Winners at the trials will compete in the 2012 London Olympics.

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Despite already sealing his place at the trials, Foster intends to box at other qualifiers like the National Golden Gloves, US Open and Eastern Trials. Competing at the national level will ensure that remains sharp and focused and he maximizes his experience against top-notch boxers, he said.

"I don't want to take a long layoff," Foster said. "I want to get right back to the gym and get into shape. I want to fight more because I don't want to come into the trials unprepared."

"Speed and smartness" are the key components of Foster's style, he said. Since he began boxing at age eight, he has idolized Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Zab Judah, both known for their quickness and ability to outfox their opponents. Mayweather is right-handed while Judah is a southpaw, and Foster emulates both their styles as a switch-hitter.

"(Boxing) is something that comes natural to me and I'm good at it," Foster said.

Peña, a seventh grader at Stovall Middle School, lost in the finals of the 13-14-year-old 114-pound division. It was his first time competing at the PAL.

"It was pretty tough," Peña said. "The kid was throwing a lot of punches and I couldn't handle it. I should have boxed him the way I box and not fight his fight."

While Peña, 36-11, is too young to compete in the 2012 Olympics, he has his sights set on the 2016 Games. Prior to the PAL, he had won championships at the Ringside International two years in a row.

"I want to go to the Olympics and then be a world champion as a professional," Peña said.

Over the last year, Peña has grown five inches and put on ten pounds. While growth spurts can be awkward, uncoordinated phases for many adolescents, Peña has had little trouble adjusting to his new physique. He has been working on doubling and tripling his jab to take advantage of his newfound reach. Like Foster, he is developing into a switch-hitter.

"I know how to fight (as a) southpaw a lot better now," Peña said.

Quintero, 24-6, lost in the semi-finals of the 138-pound Junior Olympic division, but said he deserved the verdict.

"I thought I won because I was the aggressor and I was catching him," Quintero said.

A freshman at Carver High School, Quintero won a bronze at last year's PAL as well. Like Peña, he harbors aspirations to represent the United States at the 2016 Olympics. To achieve that goal, he said, it is imperative that he develop into a more multi-dimensional and efficient boxer.

"I've learned to cut off the ring, get busy and be accurate with my punches," Quintero said. "I'm aggressive yet smart."

Quintero was lured into boxing when he was 13 because of the discipline and focus it instilled.

"I was going through a rough time and I thought boxing would help me as a human being," Quintero said. "I was getting into fights, getting into trouble in school and getting suspended. As soon as I got into boxing, that changed."